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Mitchell High School history teacher and veteran Matthew Hurd this past Thursday addresses veterans, their families and students. Hurd and students had a special Veterans Day ceremony to thank veterans for their service.

Mitchell High School has veterans ceremony

LEDGER – More than 100 local veterans and their families gathered at Mitchell High School this past Thursday for a special Veterans Day ceremony.

The veterans were served breakfast before the ceremony that featured music, a performance by the Patriots Club Honor Guard and special recognition of Korean and Vietnam War veterans.

Mitchell history teacher and United States Marine Matthew Hurd addressed the packed gymnasium at the beginning of the ceremony.

“I’m really humbled and proud to be here,” he said. “You all are heroes.”

Mitchell senior Anna Zheng gave a speech that was followed by loud applause from the veterans.

“We are meeting here to pay tribute to those who served our country,” Zheng said. “A veteran is someone who at one point wrote a blank check to America with an amount payable up to their lives. Freedom isn’t free.”

Zheng thanked the veterans for continuing to be valued members of the community.

“We appreciate your service to our country and to our community,” she said. “You truly are examples of a life of service to others. Imagine living in a country people didn’t think was worth making sacrifices for.”

Vietnam and Korean veterans were each called by name and presented with a certificate. They remained at the front of the gym and took a group photo as those in attendance gave them a standing ovation.

Mitchell’s band performed the theme songs of each branch of the military and the ceremony closed after Layton Fox played Taps.